Microsoft Adds a Few New Features in Latest Windows 10 Redstone 4 Release

Windows Insiders are getting a new build of Windows 10 Redstone 4 today. Microsoft is releasing build 17040 of Windows 10 Redstone 4 today to all Windows Insiders in the Fast Ring. The build does not include any major new features, but Microsoft’s adding some minor improvements and a couple of new features to the OS with today’s release.

First, the full touch keyboard in Windows 10 is getting support for shape-writing. Redmond recently introduced shape-writing and brought the Windows Phone keyboard to Windows 10 a little while ago, but features like shape-writing were only limited to the one-handed keyboard in the Fall Creators Update. Shape-writing is now coming to the full fledged touch keyboard, and other features from the one-handed keyboard from Windows Phone will likely follow. The updated touch keyboard now has a new commit gesture and an improved insertion gesture with today’s build as well, by the way.

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There’s also a new setting which lets users control the brightness of standard-dynamic-range content on their HDR display. In the “HDR and advanced color settings” from the System > Display section in the Settings app, users will be able to control the white level for SDR content on their HDR display which should help improve the image quality when viewing content.

As per usual, there are a number of other minor improvements and bug fixes included in build 17040 — so make sure to checkout the changelog here. And if you are an Insider in the Fast Ring, you can grab the build from Windows Update right away.

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Conversation 16 comments

  • Win74ever

    16 November, 2017 - 1:55 pm

    <p>Useless. This is a desktop OS. With a keyboard. :-)</p>

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      16 November, 2017 - 3:05 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#217199"><em>In reply to Win74ever:</em></a></blockquote><p>I use the on screen keyboard all the time on my Surface Book. Just because you don't doesn't mean it's useless.</p>

    • Rob_Wade

      16 November, 2017 - 5:32 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#217199"><em>In reply to Win74ever:</em></a></blockquote><p>Except it isn't exclusively a desktop OS. Or, at least, that's what Microsoft is trying to convince us. Outside of my studio, I only use a Surface Pro. While Windows 8 was absolutely perfect for the tablets, Windows 10 is an insult. BUT, it does have SOME tablet-ish capability, and the keyboard is one of them.</p>

  • TheJoeFin

    Premium Member
    16 November, 2017 - 1:58 pm

    <p>It is interesting that these insider builds keep refining the Pen + Touch modality… maybe there will be a hero device without physical keyboard… just a thought.</p>

    • VancouverNinja

      Premium Member
      16 November, 2017 - 2:02 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#217200"><em>In reply to TheJoeFin:</em></a></blockquote><p>It is coming.</p>

    • rmlounsbury

      Premium Member
      16 November, 2017 - 2:12 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#217200"><em>In reply to TheJoeFin:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I want to say that Microsoft might have a Surface branded "hero" device with RS4. But the Surface Pro already covers the tablet area as you don't have to use the keyboard if you don't want and it is removable. </p><p><br></p><p>I would guess if anything the rumored "Andromeda" device would be this device is there is one. A Surface class W10 device on ARM to go a long with the pen + touch features getting refined in RS4. </p>

  • pwaggs

    18 November, 2017 - 1:12 pm

    <p>But my pen still does not work with my Surface Book. It died after the last big update and is still dead. Completely useless except to open Note by clicking the eraser. All buttons work and I have changed the batteries. No word from MS on how to fix.</p>

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